Android Lollipop is definitely the biggest update since the OS has evolved. The new update has made Android simpler, more intuitive and beautiful with enhanced usability. The software update was released in November last year and it’s still making its way to more and more eligible devices.

Being an HTC flagship, the One M8 was privileged to get the Lollipop update before any other phone from the OEM. While LG and Motorola among the first to release the software update, HTC took months before it could customize its Sense UI according to the new norms. Anyway, the international HTC One M8 received Android Lollipop update about a month ago and it has just been some days when it was pushed to the Verizon variant of the device too.

If you own the Verizon HTC One M8, you might already be enjoying the Android 5.0.1 Lollipop on your phone. However, if you have gained S-OFF, rooted and have installed a custom ROM on your device, you will not receive the official OTA. In that case, you can either look for a Lollipop based Sense ROM, or restore your device to stock to be able to get the Lollipop OTA.

Thanks to XDA member, dottat that we now have another way to update the Verizon One M8 to Android 5.0.1. He has shared the Lollipop firmware as an RUU (ROM update utility) for installation via a PC and also a Zip that can be installed by copying on the SD card.

Preparations:

The procedure must be followed only by users who have gained S-OFF on their Verizon One M8.

Restore VZW M8 to Stock Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

Method 1

If you find the Method 1 too complicated for you, we got a much easier way of installing the stock ROM back to your Verizon HTC One M8. The following method is also suitable for those who do not have access to a computer. However, the is one step when you might need a computer.

The method requires an external SD card. If you already have it format it to FAT32. This is actually the default mode of formatting memory drives on Windows.

Rename the downloaded vzwm8Lhboot.zip to 0P6BIMG.zip and copy the file to your phone.

Reboot your HTC One M8 into the Bootloader mode by pressing and holding the Volume Down + Power buttons for 2-3 seconds.

Your device will automatically detect the RUU file and you’ll see installation prompts on your phone’s screen. Once the installation is done, your M8’s HBOOT will be updated to the Lollipop version. You are now ready to flash the RUU.

Guess my previous comment hasn’t been “moderated” yet because it seems to have disappeared, but ignore it anyway. I was able to re-run the ARUWizard.exe and it worked on the second try. I’m up and running! Whew!

Spoke too soon. I got it up and running, and had downloaded and even mostly configured my apps. Then I started an OTA update from Verizon, and the phone rebooted, and now won’t get past the red Verizon screen. Ugh.

Method 2: I am running the ARUwizard and can get all the way to where it starts updating firmware but it hangs at “Updating…(0/1) Sending…” I have waited 15+min just to be certain but nothing is happening.

Rakesh, you’ve saved my life again. I used method 1 to flash and evertyhing is great, I could to update very easy to Lollipop. You helped me in another forum with my LG G2, and now with a buddy’s HTC One M8. Thank you very much bro!

Method 2: I am running the ARUwizard and can get all the way to where it starts updating firmware but it hangs at “Updating…(0/1) Sending…” I have waited 15+min just to be certain but nothing is happening.

Hi there. Trying to use method 2 with a phone that’s charged to 100%, and when I run the utility it shuts down, saying that my phone is charged less than 30%. Any idea why this might be happening and what I can do to get it to run?

I ran this twice and it worked great, on the 3rd run I kept getting the same error. I found out it was caused by the ROM I was running. I installed a GPE ROM and it worked again. Thanks for the great work Dotat & Rakesh